Drug and substance abuse is a global public health problem affecting adolescents and young adults
especially in developing countries. This study investigated the perceptions of school-going
adolescents about substance abuse in Ramotswa, Botswana. A cross-sectional design study using
mixed methods was used to collect data from primary, junior and senior secondary school children
aged 13 to 19 years. Some 207 school children were recruited into the study. Almost equal numbers of
boys and girls had ever used substances prior to this study and the overall prevalence of substance
use is 17.4%. The media is the major source of awareness and knowledge of substances and most
schools (59.9%) do not have strategies for reducing abuse of substances. School surroundings provide
school children easy access to substances. Knowledge of the association of substance use and abuse
is high with mental health (74.9%), traffic accidents (70.7%) and 58.5% with heart diseases. It is
concluded concerted effort is needed involving major stakeholders to scale-up campaigns for reducing
drug and substance abuse among school children. This can be achieved through raising awareness
about the consequences of substance abuse; building capacity to strengthen coping mechanisms to
stress and to those presenting with effects resulting from use of these substances and review
academic curricula.